Mining machine



Aug- 31, 1937- R. K. JEFFREY 'ET AL MINING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1934 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTS Aug 31, 1937. R; K. JEFFREY ETAL 7 2,091,405

I MINING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1934 14 Sheets- Sheet 2 AHEAD REVERSE 2 v I [N VE/Y ToRs E be/"T ff Jeffrey AND I Aug. 1937. R. K. JEFFREY ET AL- v 2,091,405

M'INING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 'F'il ed March 17, 1934 Aug. 31, 1937- R. K, J EFFRl IY ET AL MINING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1934 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 m; 22 KN/Y. S m f w 5 S w w s W Z w M 2 Nmw MINING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1934 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 I AND Lew/'5 E M/fchefl,

ATT'Y' R. K. JEFFREY ET AL 2,091,405

MINING MACHINE Filed March 17, 19:54 14 Sheets-Sheet s 2 o m in M55 V E mwm W o R/ ATT'Y 1937. R. K. JEFFREY ET AL 7 2,091,405

MINING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1954 14 sheets-sheet a AND Lew/ls E M/7ch e//, I

Aug. 31, 1937.

R. K.- JEFFREY El AL MINING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1934 14 Sheets-Shet 9 [NVENTORS Froberf/I. Jeffre AND Lew/'5 E/V/fc/ve/A ATT'Y Aug. 31, 1937. R. K. JEFFREY ET AL MINING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1934 14 Sheets-Sheet l0 Aug. 31, 1937- R. K. JEFFREY El AL MINING MACHINE 14 Sheets- Sheet 11 Filed March 17, 1954 NWO mwm

f/v VE/Y ToRs f if wmm l ATT'Y Au 31, 1937; R. K. JEF FRv ET AL MINING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1954 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 ND y M/fc/w e ATT'Y e a 7. R mu. 4% M RLA F m wvm rmm A 9 MW wm Aug. 31, 1937. 'R. K. JEFFREY ET AL 2,091,405

MINING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1934 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 1F. Fly; 32

2|?) r 45 [N VE'N ToRs r W Robe/"fir. k/e ffrey 2b? 44, K Lew/s-E/V/fc/vefl, 1 1g 33 BY ATT'Y Aug. 31, 1937.

Filed March 1'7, 1934 Elly. 34

R. K. JEFFREY ET AL MINING MACHINE I 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 //v VEN 70/?5 Robe/"7 A. Je frey A TT'Y Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNITED STATE$ PATENT OFFICE MINING MACHINE Robert K. Jeffrey, Bexley, and Lewis E. Mitchell, Columbus, Ohio, assignors to The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company,

Our invention relates to low vein, longwall, bottom kerf-cutting machines comprisingapivoted cutter bar adapting it to be used for either shortwall operations or longwall operations, and one of the objects of our invention is the provision of improved and simplified construction in this type of mining machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a Keri-cutting mining machine which slides on its own bottom over a mine bottom during operation, of improved mechanism to enable operation of such a mining machine on steep pitches more reliably and with a greater degree of safety.

A further object of the invention is the provision in a coal mining machine of an additional haulage device primarily for safety purposes so that if the main haulage mechanism becomes inoperative the additional haulage mechanism will act to hold the mining machine safely in desired position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of main haulage mechanism for a coal mining machine combined with an auxiliary haulage mechanism which may be relied on as a safety device in the event that the main haulage mechanism becomes inoperative, both or either of said haulage mechanisms being available under various conditions for the purpose'of effecting feeding of the coal mining machine during operation either by the longwall method or the shortwall method.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved and simplified feeding mechanism for a flexible draft element having its free end anchored in the mine extraneous to the machine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of mechanism for operating a rope drum either at a slow feeding speed or at a relatively fast hauling speed from the same source of power and in one direction only by preventing rotation of the rope drum in the opposite direction from such source of power thereby enabling the rope drum to wind up but preventing it from paying out by power.

Another object of the invention is the provision of feeding and hauling mechanism for a coal mining machine operated from a source of power and embodying an improved clutch which will prevent reversal of the haulage mechanism and always maintain operation of the feeding mechanism in the same direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide for a rope drum in a coal mining machine a clutch controlled by a device which shall remain staa corporation of 1934, Serial No. 716,160 7 tionary during the rotation of the rope drum by power.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of the mining machine embodying our improvements;

Fig. l is a section on the line I -I of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the mining machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the cutting end of the machine with certain parts removed and others shown in section to facilitate illustration of controlling and operating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevational View taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan View with certain parts removed and others shown in section, of the haulage or front end of the machine shown at the right hand end of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken on the line l'--'l of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a view taken on the line F -l of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan View taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view of the auxiliary rope drum and the safety devices associated therewith;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevational View of a portion of Fig. 9 taken on the line Ill-l0 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig, 10;

Fig. 12 is an elevational view of the interior structure shown in section at the right hand portion of Fig. '7, the section being taken on line i2--i2 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation taken on the section line l3 of Fig. 6 looking in the directicn of the arrows, Fig. 13 being in elevation similar to Fig. 12 but omitting certain parts and adding others;

Fig. 14 is a sectional plan view taken on the line i i-4d of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional elevation taken on the line l5-l5 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation taken on the line I6-l6 of Fig. 15 looking in the direction of 5 the arrows; parts being broken away to show other parts;

Fig. 17 is an elevational view of one of the skids connected to the bottom of the mining machine;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged view of the means for detachably connecting one end of each of the skids to the bottom of the mining machine;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the hydraulic jack connected to the right hand end of the skid as viewed in Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 26-20 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the pump mechanism for the hydraulic jacks connected to the skids;

Fig. 21 is a diagrammatic view of the fluid pressure control system for the hydraulic jacks associated with the skids one of which is shown in elevation in Fig. 17;

Fig. 22 is a sectional view of the controlling valve of the system shown in Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion .of the mechanism. for operating the clutch for. connecting the motor operated power transmission mechanism to the chain cutter;

view taken on line 2323 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 24 is an enlarged sectional plan view of a portion of the mechanism for operating the motor controller;

Fig. 25 is an enlarged sectional plan view of certain details of construction of the mechanism for operating the motor controller;

Fig. 26.is a wiring diagram of the electrical connectionsbetw'een the motor controller and the motor;

Fig. 27 is a sectional elevation showing the details of'construction of the manually operated mechanism for actuating the motor controller;

Figs. 28,29 and 30 represent diagrammatically shortwall operations of the improved mining machine;

Fig. 31 represents the arrangement of the ropes when the machine is permitted to slide of its own weight over the mine bottom toward the right;

Fig. 32 represents the position of the ropes when the machine is to be moved over the mine bottom by power after having been permitted to slide down an incline;

Fig. '33 represents the position of the haulage 5 ropes when the machine is to be moved to a working face preparatory to a cutting operation;

Figs. 34 and 35 represent longwall operations in opposite directions;

Fig. 36 represents a swinging kerf cutting 60 movement into a longwall face;

Figs. .37, 38 and 39 represent diagrammatically the completion of a longwall cut at the end of a longwall face; and

Figs. 40 and 41 represent diagrammatically the haulage of the mining machine from its position where it has completed a longwall out.

By referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the supporting framework of the mining machine comprises an intermediate motor section 43, a front feeding and hauling section M, and a rear cutting section 45. These sections are detachably connected together by means of stud screws as illustrated at 44 and 45" in Figs. 3 and 6. An elongated kerf cutter 46 projects from the rear end f the cutter-head section 4.5

and is pivotally connected thereto. Releasable locking mechanism comprising vertical pins 41, 41 is relied on to hold the kerf cutter in the position shown in Fig. 1 during the shortwall operations illustrated in Figs. 28, 29 and 30, or to hold the kerf cutter in laterally projecting positions for longwall operations. illustrated in Figs. 34 to 39 inclusive. The elongated kerf cutter 46 comprises elongated cutter bar &8 with a chain cutter 49 arranged to travel on the periphery thereof. The feeding and haulage section 44 comprises flexible draft elements which may be ropes as shown at 53 and Si in Fig. l, the free ends of which are adapted to be connected to fixed anchorages extraneous to the machine as illustrated in Figs. 28 to 41 inclusive.

Each of the sections 63, 44 and 45 is self-contained and when bolted together the overall height of the machine is no greater than the distance between the horizontal planes extending through the upper and lower surfaces of the motor section '43. The machine is therefore well adapted for the cutting of kerfs in relatively low veins and the construction hereinafter described permits the use of a relative high horse power electric motorand .the use of operating and controlling apparatus within the space between such upper and. lower horizontal planes while at the same time keeping the width and. length of the supporting framework within such limits as is consistent with the free sliding of the machine on its own bottom over the mine bottom along narrow passageways between timbering and the upright coal faces and other places in the mine where the available spaces are very limited.

The bolting together of the various sections 43, 44 and 45 is such that the sections may be readily separated at the coal face where the roof in the entry or room is only slightly higher than the top of the machine itself. This is an advantage when repairs and replacements are desired to be made adjacent to the coal face; for instance, the armature and field coils of the electric motor may be replaced and the sections reassembled adjacent to the coal face to place the machine in condition for further operations. 7

In Fig. 3 the electric motor armature 52 is shown provided with a shaft 53 journaled in the ball bearing 54 and having secured. at the right end thereof a pinion 55 which meshes with a gear 56. The latter is keyed to the left hand end of the shaft 57 journaled in the bearings 57! and 5'! mounted in the frame of the cutter-head section &5.v

The shaft 51 carries a worm 58 which meshes Witha worm wheel 59 rotatable on a vertical axis approximately midway between the sides of the machine. The worm wheel 59 as shown in Fig. 5 is secured to a hub 66 mounted loosely on the bushing 6| which surrounds the vertical shaft 62.

The vertical shaft 62 is journaledto rotate between the top conical thrust bearing 63 and the bottom conical thrust bearing 64 between the cover plate 65 and the bottom casting 99 of the box-like enclosure having the end wall plates 61 and 68.

As shown in Fig. 1 the cover plate 65 may be secured by means of bolts 69 to the vertical wall plates of the box-like enclosure shown in Fig. 5.

By means of a transverse partition ii] the interior chamber ll is provided for containing lubricating oil which may be introduced through the opening at 12.

An auxiliary cover plate 13 is detachably secured by means of the cap screws 14 to the ring shaped support 75 which depends from the cover plate 65 and may be integral therewith as shown in Fig. 5. The inner surface of the support 75 is cylindrical to receive the outer roller bearing race '16, the inner race Tl being secured to the upper end of the shaft 62. A cap plate l8 kept from rotating relatively to the shaft 62 by means of the pin i9, may be secured in place by means of the screw 80 as shown in Fig. 5 so as to hgld the inner race l! in place.

When the auxiliary cover plate 73 is removed the chamber 8! may be filled with lubricant for the upper thrust roller bearing. The worm gearing 58, 59 and the parts below the same may be lubricated by introducing lubricant through the oil opening 72 in the main cover plate as shown in Fig. 5. Preferably the oil introduced into the chamber ll should be at such a level as to submerge only the lower portion of the gear 59 so that when the machine is on steep grades the oil in chamber 'M will not drain over into the hydraulic pump compartment hereinafter described.

Intermediate the ends of the shaft 52 is welded, as indicated at 82 in Fig. 5, a cup shaped support 83 which carries on its outer surface a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertical splines 84 which drive the vertically slidable clutch element 85. The lower portion 86 of the clutch element 85 is cylindrical in shape and provided with an annular shoulder 81 against which is held the clutch lifting ring or yoke 89. A series of circumferential oblong openings 9! is provided to reduce the weight of metal, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The yoke 89 is held in place by means of a collar 38 secured to the lower end of the member 86 by means of shoulder pins. The movement of the clutch yoke 89 up or down carries the clutch element 35 into or out of engagement with the clutch element 94. It should be understood that when the cover plate 65 is removed the worm gear 59 and the cup shaped support 83 may be removed and then when the shoulder pins are released the lower clutch element 35 may be also released from the yoke 89.

Riveted to the under side of the hub to as indicated at 92 is a ring 533 the under side of which is provided with a series of clutch teeth 94. It should be understood that the hub 63 always ro tates with the worm gear 59 and that the cup shaped support 83 always rotates with the vertical shaft 62. The upper side of the clutch element 85 is provided with clutch teeth adapted to engage the upper clutch teeth 94.

At diametrically opposite sides of the disc shaped yoke 39, 9B are trunnions 95, 95 to which are journaled the arms 96, Q5 pivoted at 9?, ill to brackets the lower ends of which are screwthreaded at 98, 93 to the bottom 99 of the box-like enclosure.

The bottom 98 of the cutter-head section 45 is provided with a recess at lilo for the lower roller bearing 66 and immediately above this recess but of larger diameter is another recess l! to receive the means comprising the cork ring I82 for providing an oil seal to prevent loss of lubricant from the bottom of the chamber '5! i. The oil seal at H33 below the roller bearing and immediately above the chain driving sprocket is provided for the purpose of preventing dirt or foreign matter from entering the lower side of the roller bearing M.

It will thus be seen that all of the bearings in the cutter-head section 45 are well lubricated, the

gear drives being placed in an oil-tight gear housing which has a removable top cover plate 65 so that the gears may become readily accessible for replacement or repairs.

Although the chain driving sprocket I04 is shown riveted at H35 one of the rivet heads may be removed and the rivet detached so that when the sprocket N34 is removed the shaft 62 together With the hub 69 and worm gear 55 may be taken out of the housing after the cover 65 has been detached. When the shaft 62 is lifted out, the inner race of the lower roller bearing and the cup shaped support 83 may be also removed. On account of the curvature of the teeth of the worm gear 59 the caps for the ball bearings 51' and 5'? shown in Fig. 3 should first be detached so as to free the worm 53 from such curvature. When the worm gear 59 is lifted out, the lower clutch element 85 remains connected to the clutch yoke 89. The pins holding the collar 88 in place cannot be withdrawn until the cupshaped support 83 has been lifted out of the clutch element 85. The pins may then be pressed inwardly to release the collar 88, whereupon the clutch element 85 may be removed.

The kerf cutter as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a cutter bar 58 which is. so supported on the cutter-head section 45 that the lower plane of the kerf cut by the kerf cutter will be flush or substantially flush with the bottom of the machine. That is to say, the lower plane of the kerf to be out should be in continuation of the plane of the mine bottom.

The cutter head has the form of a circular turntable it'l which is provided with an overhanging bracket iii to which the cutter bar support 68 is rigidly secured by any desirable securing means such as the welding Hill shown in Fig. 5.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the lower surface H39 of the wearing shoe Hi8 which is secured to the cutter-bar support it by the cap screws I06, is adapted to slide over the mine bottom during cutting operations. It should be understood that when the cutter bar support 418' is mounted as shown in Fig. 5 it is rigidly connected to the turntable Hill to extend radially therefrom and rotate bodily therewith.

The central portion of the turntable It! is provided with a cylindrical hub Mi! which is journaled on the outer cylindrical surface of the depending cup shaped portion 65 of the bottom casting 99.

A circular plate ii I is welded to the bottom of the casting $53 to form part of the annular groove H2 into which are fitted two semi-circular plates lit. spaced screws ll-i the semi-circular plates H3 are rigidly attached to the upper peripheral circular portion of the turntable Hill. The turntable is thus suspended from the bottom of the casting 59 by means of the semi-circular plates l l 3 fitting in the groove H2. I

When it is desired to remove the cutter head or rotatable turntable it! together with the cutter bar rigidly attached thereto, the screws 1 it may be removed to release the semi-circular plates I 13. Some of the screws li i may be released by removing the screw plug 1 55 shown at the left hand portion of Fig. 5. This may be done after removing the cover plate lit which is detachably mounted as shown in Fig. l by means of the bolts or screws ill. The removal of the cover plate [96 also renders accessible the mechanism located in the compartments containing the pump- By means of a series of circumferentially' ing apparatus and the inter-meshing gears 55 and 56.

The mechanism for applying and releasing the clutch shown in Fig. 5 for connecting the worm Wheel 59 to the chain driving sprocket I64, is operable from the front end of the machine where the haulage and feeding section 45 is located. As shown in Fig. 3 a cross-piece H8 connects the ends of the arms 6'6 remote from the trunnions 95. At the center of the cross-piece H8 is an arm I is to which is screw-threaded a pivot block I26 as shown in Fig. 23.

A stationary bracket 12! is mounted on a support I22 which is secured to the bottom wall 39 of the chamber it as indicated at I22 in Fig. 23. Toggle mechanism comprising the links i23, I24 and I25 is connected. between the pivot block I26 and the upper end of the bracket IEI. When the link I25 is pulled toward the left as viewed in Fig. 23 the pivot block I26 is pushed down and therefore the trunnions 95 shown in Fig. 3 are lifted and this operation effects throwing in of the clutch comprising the elements 85 and 94.

The left hand. end of the link I25 is pivoted at I29 to the link I36 the lower end of which is pivoted at I3I to the bracket I22, and the up per end of which is pivoted at I32 to the pivot block I33 into which is screw-threaded an operating rod I34. The forward end of the operating rod I34 is mounted in a slide bearing I35 as shown in Fig. 24 and the end of the rod is provided with a cross-piece or hub I36 which engages the front face of the bearing I35 so as to limit the movement of the rod I34 rearwardly or toward the right as viewed in Fig. 24. The cross-pin I36 supports the handle I3? which may be lifted to a horizontal position as shown in dotted lines at I3? in Fig. 24 and then grasped to pull the rod I34 and thereby move the link I25 to the left as viewed in Fig. 23. The pulling out of the handle I 31 pushes down the arm II9 shown in Fig. 3 and consequently the trunnions 95 are lifted and the clutch is applied to connect the worm gear 59 to the vertical shaft 62 and the chain driving sprocket I64. A coil spring I26 is supported on studs I21 and I28 on bracket I2I and link I36, respectively.

.The Spring I26 is a compression spring and. therefore assists in applying the clutch but the pivot I38 does not move into a straight line extending through the pivots I39 and I46 but remains to the right thereof as viewed in Fig. 23.

The spring and the toggle mechanism are therefore able to easily hold the clutch applied when the handle I 3'! is released. When it is desired to release the clutch the rod l34 must be pushed back to its full line position shown in Fig. 24 and this operation will effect a positive movement of the link I25 to its position shown in Fig. 23 whereupon the arm H6 shown in Fig. 3 will be positively lifted and the clutch elements 35 and 93, 64 will be released by a direct force exerted by the attendant when he grasps the handle I 36 and pushes the rod I34 rearwardly back to its position shown in Fig. 24. It will thus be seen that the spring I26 in its tendency to apply the clutch counterbalances the weight of the clutch element 85 and the ring 89 tending to release the clutch, thereby greatly facilitating the manual operation of the clutch in applying and releasing the same.

Referring now to the haulage and feeding section 44 of the machine, it will be seen that the forward end of the armature shaft of the electric motor 52 is coupled to a shaft I4I journaled in ballbearings and secured to the worm I42 which meshes with a worm wheel I43 journaled on the vertical shaft I44. By means of three bolts I45 an eccentric cam I46 is rigidly secured to the hub portion I41 of the Worm gear I43. The worm gear I43 and the eccentric cam I46 are respectively mounted on spaced ballbearings I48 and I49 for free rotation relatively to the vertical shaft I44. When the motor operates to rotate the worm I42 rotary motion is imparted through the worm gear I43 to the eccentrio cam I46 to rotate the latter freely on the ball-bearings I48, I49 relatively to the vertical shaft I44.

When the eccentric cam I46 rotates it engages a circular ring I56 which is mounted by means of the roller bearings I5I for free rotation on the vertical bearing I 52, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The ring roller I 56 and the vertical bearing I52 are carried on the bell crank lever I53 as shown in Fig. 6. This bell crank lever is pivoted at I54 where it is supported by the frame I55 for oscillation on a fixed Vertical axis.

To that end of the bell crank lever I53 remote from its pivot W4, is pivoted at I56 a screw rod I51 which is adjustably connected to the screw-threaded block I58, the latter being pivoted at I56 to the oscillating pawl carrier I66.

By referring to Fig. '7, it will be seen that the pawl carrier I66 is provided with a central circular portion which is journaled on the hub I6I of the ratchet wheel I62, the latter being keyed as indicated at I63 to the upper end portion of the vertical shaft 544. The pawl carrier I66 may be locked in place as shown in Fig. '7 by means of the cylindrical bracket I64 suspended from the bottom of the plate I65 which is secured by bolts I67 toth-e box-like structure comprising the vertical plates I68.

The cover plate I66 may be fastened to the plate 865 by the machine screws I 66, there being apertures in the plate I66 that may fit over the heads of bolts I61 as shown in Fig. 1.

A central circular cover plate I69 may be connected by means of the screws Ilfl as shown in Fig. 1, to the central portion of the plate I65. When the plate I63 is removed access may be had to the chamber III to lubricate the ball bearings H2 which fit in the cylindrical recess in the bracket I64. The ball bearings I 72 afford a means of journaling the upper end of the vertical shaft I44 in the bracket I64.

When the cover plate I65 is removed access may be had to the chamber 9'53 and the mechanism therein. It should be understood that the chamber I113, when all the parts are assembled and when the covers are attached, affords a closed lubricating chamber for the worm gearing and the ratchet feeding mechanism, all of the parts shown in Fig. 7 in the chamber I73 running in oil.

Pivoted at I "I4 to the pawl carrier I 66 is a spring pressed pawl I75 in position to engage theteeth of the ratchet wheel I62. It will thus be seen that when the cam I46 is rotated, the bell crank lever I53 will be oscillated and the pawl and ratchet mechanism will be intermittently actuated to effect a step by step feeding movement of the vertical shaft I44 in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6. A spring pressed retaining pawl H6 is pivotally mounted on the axis I54 for movement independently of the bell crank lever I53 and in position to engage the ratchet teeth to prevent retrograde movement of the vertical shaft I44. By means of the adjustment which may be effected between the members I51 and I53 the pawl I75 may be adjusted so as to enter properly the notch between the ratchet teeth when the roller ISI] is nearest the vertical shaft Mi l.

The rotation of the cam i 36 thrusts the roller E outwardly away from the shaft l 44 and thereby causes a forward anti-clockwise movement of the pawl i'i5 together with the ratchet wheel I62. In order to return the pawl I15 to its initial position a restoring spring shown at Ill in Figs. 6 and 15 is relied upon. This spring is lo cated in the tube 9718 between the transverse partition I 79 and the head I Bil which is pivotally connected at I M to the link 4222 the other end of which is pivoted at I83 to the bell crank lever I53. (See Fig, 15.)

The restoring movement or return throw of the pawl I'lii may be varied or regulated in accordance with the extent of feed desired. A rod I84 which is pivotally connected at one end to the head I 30, slides. through the center of the partition I79 and is connected at its outer end to the stop I85. It will thus be seen that the spring I TI can move the pawl I75 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 only to the extent permitted by the stop It5 striking against the partition I79.

The position of the partition I'll may be varied by sliding the tube I718 in the cylindrical or tubular support I85 which is detachably secured to the plate I87, the latter being in turn detachably secured to the supporting framework of the machine,

Mounted in the cap bearing I88 is an adjust ing screw l89 capable of rotary but not endwise movement (Fig. 15). When the manually operable wheel IQil is rotated the screw I89 is rotated and since this screw is screw-threaded through the left hand end of the tube I18, as viewed in Fig. 6, the partition l'iil will be moved to varied distances from the shaft IM.

As shown in Figs. 6, l5 and 16 a collar E9I fits in the cap bearing I88 for rotary movement and is provided with a notch I92 in which is adapted to fit a ball I93 urged by the spring pressed cup I94 into the notch. The compression of the spring I95 may be regulated by the screw plug I96.

The pitch of the screw-threads I89 is such that when the wheel I95 is given one rotation so that the ball I93 may be reseated in the notch I92 the partition E79 will be moved such a distance as to cause the pawl lit to be reset to a position one notch from its previously adjusted position. For instance, the adjustment of the partition I'll?) may be such as to cause the pawl Ii5 to remain in a certain notch even though the cam I46 is rotated, thereby effecting no feed at all. Adjustments may also be made to cause the pawl I15 to move the ratchet wheel either one notch, two notches, three notches or four notches, as may be desired. Full speed feeding transmission mechanism may thus be effected for purposes hereinafter more fully explained. It should be particularly noted, however, that all feeding movements or step by step advances of the ratchet wheel 262 are uni-directional irrespective of the direction of rotation of the armature shaft. That is to say, it is immaterial whether the motor is rotating in one direction or in a reverse direction. The rotation of the cam M6 will always cause oscillation of the bell crank I 53 so that the reciprocation of the pawl I75 will always be the same and the rotation of the shaft I44 as viewed in Fig. 6 will always be in an anti-clockwise direction.

At the lower end of the vertical shaft I 44 as shown in Fig. '7 is a pinion I97 which meshes with a gear I98 journaled by means of the ball-bearings I99 to the vertical bearing 2% extending upwardly from the bottom plate 2ilI of the supporting frame of the haulage and feeding section 44. The gear I98 meshes with the relatively larger gear 2&2 which is keyed at 283 to the cylindrical hub 23 to the upper end of which is connected one element295 of a friction clutch 206, the other element 261 of which is located on the interior of the rope drum 208. The bushing 209 is pressed into the sleeve 284 for journaling on the vertical stationary bearing 2I0, the latter being secured to the top plate 234 by being keyed thereto as shown in Fig. 7.

As shown inFig. 8 the gear 2% mesheswithagear 2i I mounted to rotate about vertical bearing 2I2 which is similar to the vertical bearing 2 It. Also mounted to rotate about the vertical axis of the bearing 2I2 is a rope drum 2I3, and between the gear 2!! and the rope drum 2I3 is a sleeve friction clutch and rope drum similar in all respects tothe structure shown at the left hand portion of Fig. '7. The gear 232 rotates in an anti-clockwise direction as viewed in plan and the gear 2I I rotates in a clockwise direction and the ratio between these gears is such that the gear 2i I will rotate approximately ten percent faster than the gear 202 for purposes hereinafter explained.

As shown in Fig. 7 the hub 2I6 is provided with a cup-shaped bearing 2M which is held against rotation relative to the bottom plate 20d by means of the pin 2I5. The hub Zlt of the large spur gear 202 rests on the bearing plate 2M within the cylindrical flange 2!? which afiords an oil cup. This hub 2 I6 carries the portion 204 of the clutch element 205. The upper end of the hub 2 I6 is provided with a ring packing 2 I8 which bears against the inner surface of the stationary ring 2m to form a dirt seal, the ring 2H} being mounted in a circular opening in the cover plate 2263. This cover plate may be provided with the extension 22I for the space in which the spur gear 2II rotates. A vertical extension may also be provided at 222 (Fig. 7) and suitable partitions provided as shown at 223, 22a and 225 to cooperate with the cover plate 226, 22! to provide an enclosure for the spur gearing shown in plan in Fig. 8.

A star-shaped plate 226 (Figs. '7 and. 7 is connected by means of the pins 226' to the hub 2I6 to rotate therewith and to make a close sliding fit with the upper surface of the cover plate 220. The star plate 226 acts to throw out coal dust or foreign material from under the rope drum 2% to keep such material from entering the chamber below the plate 220 and to prevent such material from retarding free rotation of the rope drum 208. A similar star plate is located under drum 2 I3.

By providing a floor 221 for the chamber I13 as shown in Fig. 7, a separate closed chamber 228 may be provided for the spur gearing. The central portion of the floor plate 22'! may also afford support for the outer race of the ball bearing 23%.

Suitable lubricating means may be provided for the spur gearing in the closed chamber 228.

Connected to and wound on the rope drum 208 is a rope 50 the free end of which is adapted to be connected to a fixed anchorage in the mine extraneous to the machine as illustrated in the diagrammatic views, Figs. 28 to 41 inclusive. Connected to and wound on the rope drum 2 I3 is a rope the free end of which is also adapted to be connected to a fixed anchorage in the mine. The application of power transmitted from the motor to each rope drum is controlled by the 5 friction clutch associated therewith. As above stated, each of the rope drums 268 and 2 I3 is provide with its own friction clutch and each friction clutch is operated by the mechanism shown in Fig. 7.

1O Atransverse top plate 234 is securely bolted to the side walls of the frame of the section 44 and the upper ends of the vertical cylindrical bearings 2I0 and 2I2 are secured thereto so as to prevent rotation of said vertical bearings relative to the supporting frame of the machine. Beneath the plate 234 and keyed to the stationary bearing 2H) at 235 is a screw-threaded bushin 236 which is provided in its lower inner side with a seat 231 for a ball bearing 238. It will thus be seen that the sleeve 264 is mounted so that it'will have no'vertical movement relative to the bearing 2H1 but may rotate with the bushing 209 while provided with the thrust bearing 238 at its upper end.

Journaled on the bushing 239 surrounding the sleeve 204 is a sleeve-shaped hub 240 at the interior of the ropedrum 268. The rope drum is therefore mounted for rotation on the sleeve 204 and the latter in turn is mounted for rotation about the vertical axis of the bearing 2I0.

Mounted at the upper side of the drum 298 as shown at 24I is the outer race 242 of a ball bearing 243 the inner race 244 of which is riveted as shown at 245 to the wheel 246 screw-threaded on 5 to the screw-threaded bushing 236.

Radial spokes or handles 241 on the wheel 246, some of which handles always project out from beyond the plate 234, may be used to turn the wheel 246 on the screw 236 to lift or lower the ball bearing 243. This ball bearing supports the rope drum and also the clutch member 2111. Therefore, when the ball bearing 243 is lifted the clutch is applied to direct transmission of power from the spur gear 262 to the flexible draft element or rope 53. In a similar manner transmission of power from the spur gear 2 to the rope drum connected thereto may be effected by grasping the radial handles 241' and turning the wheel 246' to obtain a pull on the rope 5i As shown in Fig. 6, when the two rope drums are rotated in opposite directions and each uni-directionally, pulls will be exerted on both of the ropes 50 and 5|.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 rope directional sheaves may be located at various corners of the machine. The directional sheaves may be superimposed as shown at the right hand end of Fig. 2, the wider sheave 232 being used for a rope extending directly from the rope drum, and the upper sheave 233 being used when the rope 50 is directed around the same. One directional sheave 248 is suflicient for the rope drum connected to the larger spur gear 262. These directional sheaves are shown in sectional elevation in 65 Fig. 1

At the rear end of the machine a directional sheave 249 may be mounted on an arm 256 which is detachably connected at 25I to a depending bracket 252 or to a depending bracket 252' at 1- either corner on opposite sides of the machine, as

shown in Fig. 4.

In order to slide the machine over the mine bottom at a relatively fast or haulage speed, mechanism is provided as shown in Figs. 7 and 10 te 14 inclusive, for connecting the worm wheel I43 directly to the shaft I44 and the pinion I91 to drive the latter independently of the pawl and ratchet feeding mechanism shown in Fig. 6. By means of the handle 253 connected to the rock shaft 254 which is journaled in the bearing 255, the slotted disc 256 may be moved from the position shown in Fig. 13 to a clutch applying position and held there after the handle 253 is released.

In the slot 251 of the disc 256 is pivoted at 258 the upper end of a rod 259 the lower end of which is provided with a nut 260 engaging the lower end of the compression spring 26I, the latter being mounted in a tube 262 the lower end of which is connected to the L-shaped member 263 secured to the arm 264. The other end of the arm 264 as shown in Fig. 14 is secured to a tube 265 journaled on a bearing rod 266 mounted in the brackets 261 and 268. Secured to the other end of the tube 265 is another arm 269. Trunnions 210, 21!! carrying a ring 21I, are journaled in bearings at the outer ends of the arms 264 and 269 as shown in Fig. 14.

Carried by the ring 21I is a lower clutch element 212 which is provided with beveled clutch teeth 212' adapted to engage the upper clutch element 213 secured to thelower side of the worm gear I43 as shown in Figs. 7 and 13. The lower clutch element 212 is disc-shaped and its periphery fits in an inner annular groove of the ring 21 I. The latter may be constructed of semi-circular parts bolted together as shown at 214, 214 in Fig. 14 to clamp the ring 21I to the clutch element 212.

It should be particularly noted that the interior meshing teeth 212 and 213' are provided with such beveled surfaces that when the worm gear I43 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in plan, the clutch 212, 213 will be ineffective to transmit power from the motor to the pinion I 91. While it is immaterial whether the motor rotates in one direction or the other when the pawl and ratchet feedingmechanism is to be operated, the worm gear I43 should be rotated only in an anti-clockwise direction when the clutch is applied because such application of the clutch will effect rotation of the ratchet wheel I62 which is keyed to the upper end of the shaft I44 as shown in Fig. '1. The pawl I15 remains in engagement with the ratchet wheel I62 and therefore the shaft I44 must be rotated in an anti-clockwise direction when power is applied directly to the pinion I91. Therefore, when the clutch 212, 213 is applied the motor must be rotated in the proper direction to secure anti-clockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel I62 and the shaft I44. Any attempt to do otherwise would cause the pawl I15 to lock the shaft I44 against rotation whereupon the clutch teeth 212' and 213' will slip relatively to each other even though the pivot pin 258 is held at dead center or beyond, by the spring 26I. In other words, when the clutch is applied by means of the handle .253 it will be spring-loaded and the beveling of the clutch teeth will necessitate rotation of the motor in the proper .direction to maintain uni-directional rotation of the driving spur gears 262 and 2| I for the two rope drums. Consequently, whether the rope drums are rotated by means of the slow speed pawl and ratchet mechanism or by means of the fast speed haulage mechanism the rope drums can be rotated by power only in such directions as .to wind up the ropes thereon and can never be operated by power to pay out the ropes. When the ropes are to be paid out the friction clutches may be released to free the drums and the ropes can then be pulled manually for the anchoring of the free ends 

